Circuit board housing assembly having a securing clip

Abstract

A housing assembly is provided, and includes a circuit board, a housing, and a clip. The circuit board has a main body and a ground plane. The main body defines an opening therethrough in the circuit board. The housing receives the circuit board. The clip for secures the circuit board to the housing. The clip includes a projecting tab and a flange. The projecting tab is received by the opening in the circuit board and the flange contacts the ground plane.

Having thus described the invention, it is claimed: 
     
         1 . A housing assembly, comprising:
 a circuit board having a main body and a ground plane, the main body defining an opening therethrough in the circuit board;   a housing for receiving the circuit board; and   a clip for securing the circuit board to the housing, the clip including a projecting tab and a flange, the projecting tab received by the opening in the circuit board and the flange contacting the ground plane.   
     
     
         2 . The housing assembly in  claim 1 , wherein the clip includes a projection configured to contact a portion of the housing, wherein the flange of the clip is configured to exert a first biasing force upon the ground plane of the circuit board, and the projection is configured to exert a second biasing force upon the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The housing assembly in  claim 2 , wherein the first biasing force and the second biasing force generally oppose one another. 
     
     
         4 . The housing assembly in  claim 1 , wherein the clip is constructed from spring steel. 
     
     
         5 . The housing assembly in  claim 1 , wherein the housing is constructed from an electrically conductive material. 
     
     
         6 . The housing assembly in  claim 1 , wherein the projecting tab is a portion of the flange that is generally perpendicular to a remaining portion the flange. 
     
     
         7 . The housing assembly in  claim 1 , wherein the projecting tab is positioned along a midsection of the clip. 
     
     
         8 . The housing assembly in  claim 1 , wherein the projecting tab is offset from a midsection of the clip. 
     
     
         9 . The housing assembly in  claim 1 , wherein the housing assembly is part of an electric power steering (EPS) assembly. 
     
     
         10 . An electric power steering (EPS) assembly, comprising:
 a housing assembly comprising:
 a circuit board having a main body and a ground plane, the main body defining an opening therethrough in the circuit board; 
 a housing for receiving the circuit board; and 
 a clip for securing the circuit board to the housing, the clip including a projecting tab, a flange, and a projection, the projecting tab received by the opening in the circuit board, the flange contacting the ground plane, and the projection contacting a portion of the housing. 
   
     
     
         11 . The EPS assembly in  claim 10 , wherein the flange of the clip is configured to exert a first biasing force upon the ground plane of the circuit board, and the projection is configured to exert a second biasing force upon the housing. 
     
     
         12 . The EPS assembly in  claim 11 , wherein the first biasing force and the second biasing force generally oppose one another. 
     
     
         13 . The EPS assembly in  claim 10 , wherein the clip is constructed from spring steel. 
     
     
         14 . The EPS assembly in  claim 10 , wherein the housing is constructed from an electrically conductive material. 
     
     
         15 . The EPS assembly in  claim 10 , wherein the projecting tab is a portion of the flange that is generally perpendicular to a remaining portion the flange. 
     
     
         16 . The EPS assembly in  claim 10 , wherein the projecting tab is positioned along a midsection of the clip. 
     
     
         17 . The EPS assembly in  claim 10 , wherein the projecting tab is offset from a midsection of the clip. 
     
     
         18 . A method of securing a circuit board to a housing by a clip, comprising:
 placing a projecting tab of the clip within an opening of the circuit board;   seating a flange of the clip against a ground plane of the circuit board; and   sliding a projection of the clip over an edge of the housing to secure the clip to the circuit board and the housing.   
     
     
         19 . The method in  claim 18 , comprising providing a tool that includes a securing portion that contacts the clip, wherein the tool is directed in a first direction that is generally orthogonal to the housing to urge the projection of the clip over the edge of the housing. 
     
     
         20 . The method in  claim 19 , wherein the tool includes a profile that generally conforms to an outer profile of the clip.